The Correspondent takes top spot as Waterstone’s Ballymena announces Threshing Day celebration
Saturday 19 September 2026
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans has returned to the top of the bestseller chart at Waterstone’s Ballymena, leading a crime-heavy Top 10 featuring some of the biggest names in contemporary fiction.
Ann Cleeves takes second place with The Killing Stones, while Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye climbs into the top three ahead of Lyra Parish’s Fall I Want.
The latest update also brings two half-price offers, details of the next Saturday Storytime and Fiction Book Club, plus a special evening celebrating the release of Rebecca Yarros’ Threshing Day.
This week’s Top 10
1. The Correspondent — Virginia Evans
A warm and quietly compelling novel told through letters, following Sybil Van Antwerp as her correspondence gradually reveals a story of friendship, loss, forgiveness and the connections that shape a life.
2. The Killing Stones — Ann Cleeves
The acclaimed creator of Vera Stanhope and the Shetland series delivers another atmospheric crime novel, combining a strong sense of place with the carefully constructed mystery and character-driven storytelling for which she is renowned.
3. Buckeye — Patrick Ryan
A sweeping story of human connection and the intimacies of small-town life, following two married people whose chance encounter has consequences that ripple through their families for generations.
4. Fall I Want — Lyra Parish
An escapist contemporary romance from Lyra Parish, bringing together attraction, emotion and the complications that arise when falling for someone threatens carefully made plans.
5. Exit Strategy — Lee Child
Lee Child delivers another dose of fast-paced suspense and high-stakes action, offering thriller fans the page-turning storytelling that has made him one of the genre’s most recognisable names.
6. Agrippa — Robert Harris
The bestselling author of Conclave and Fatherland returns to the power struggles of Ancient Rome in an exploration of friendship and influence, as Agrippa exposes the truth about Emperor Augustus through his memoirs.
7. She Didn’t See It Coming — Shari Lapena
The bestselling thriller writer delivers another suspenseful story built around secrets, suspicion and the unsettling realisation that appearances — and the people closest to us — can be dangerously deceptive.
8. We Are All Guilty Here — Karin Slaughter
Karin Slaughter brings her trademark tension and dark storytelling to another gripping crime novel, where secrets, guilt and an investigation expose uncomfortable truths beneath the surface.
9. The Widow — John Grisham
The master of the legal thriller returns with another page-turning tale of crime, secrets and justice, combining intrigue with the twists and suspense that have made Grisham a worldwide bestseller.
10. We Chase Shadows — Richard Osman
From Palm Springs to Barcelona via a sleepy English village pub, Osman’s likeable but unlikely detective trio pursue a ruthless killer in the second instalment of his escapist, globetrotting thriller series.
Half-price picks
Two titles offering something completely different feature among the latest half-price selections.
• Guinness World Records 2027
The annual favourite returns with another collection of jaw-dropping achievements, remarkable records and fascinating facts, covering everything from emeralds to the Incredible Hulk.
• 20 Minute Meals: Real Fast Food — Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver turns his attention to seriously speedy cooking in a collection designed for busy lives, with a mouthwatering selection of recipes that can be completed in just 20 minutes.
Saturday Storytime
Younger book lovers can enjoy another afternoon of stories and activities at Waterstone’s Ballymena next weekend.
Storytime and colouring takes place at 12pm on Saturday 26 September, when the team will be reading Duck Delivers…Cake! by Tom Tinn-Disbury.
• Buckeye selected for Fiction Book Club
There is another reason to pick up this week’s number three bestseller, with Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye chosen for the next Fiction Book Club.
The group meets at 7pm on Thursday 1 October, with everyone welcome to come along for coffee, cake and plenty of book chat.
• Threshing Day celebration comes to Ballymena
Fans of Rebecca Yarros’ hugely popular Empyrean series have a special date to add to their diaries, with Waterstone’s Ballymena throwing a party to celebrate the release of Threshing Day.
The event takes place at 7pm on Friday 2 October and will celebrate the new collection of short stories featuring favourite characters from the Empyrean series.
Fans can expect a Fourth Wing-themed quiz, games and snacks, along with a selection of giveaways during the evening.
From bestselling crime and historical fiction to contemporary romance, this week’s Top 10 once again highlights the varied reading tastes of Waterstone’s Ballymena customers.
And with Storytime, the return of Fiction Book Club and a dedicated Threshing Day celebration all approaching, the store has plenty planned to bring local readers together as the autumn publishing season gathers pace.
